Electrical controller



Jan. 22-, .v19 24. 1,481,372-

R. B. HUNTER ELECTRI CAL CONTROLLER Filed Jan. 18, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheetamp.

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INVEN TOR mum B. l-bwvvbe/v A TTORNEY Jan. 22 1924. 1,481,372

R. B. HUNTER ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER Filed Jan. 18 1922 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 3w s.

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A TTORNEY Patented Jan. 22, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD B. HUNTER, OF MILWAUKEE,

WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER- HAMMER MFG. CO., 015 MILWAUKEE,WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER.

Application filed January 18, 1922. Serial No. 580,081.

T 0 all whom 2'25 may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD B. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in ElectricalControllers, of which the following is a full, clear, consise, and exactdescription, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawing, forming apart of this specification.

This invention relates to electrical controllers and more particularlyto controllers of the drum type.

In the control of alternating current motors it is frequently desirableto provide for commutation of the circuit connections in a plurality ofrelations for operation of the motor in a given direction and in certainonly of such relations for reverse operation and the present inventionhas as an object that of providing an improved and simplified drumcontroller adapted to so function.

Another object is that of providing such a controller wherein the rangeof angular travel required to effect the foregoing commutation is soreduced and the parts are so arranged as to adapt the same toprogressive actuation in a given direction for effecting a plurality ofcomplete cycles of such commutations for each revolution of the drum.

Another object is that of providing a controller whereof certainphysical dimensions are materially reduced through more eflicientcorrelation and arrangement of elements.

Another object is that of providing a drum structure and system ofconnections therefor enabling adaptation of the same without substantialstructural modification to the control of numerous and widelydifferenttypes of devices in different ways.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein are illustrated diagrammaticallycertain adaptations of a given embodiment of the invention;

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the drum as adapted to effect differentcharacters of control of three phase motors;

Fig. 2 illustrates certain substitute connections obtainable by the drumarrangement of Fig. 3;

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the drum as adapted to the control of differenttypes of motor supplied by a two phase four wire system;

Fig. 3 illustrates certain substitute connections obtainable by the drumarrangement of Fig. 3; while,

Fig. 5 illustrates the arrangement and grouping of the drum segments.

The drum illustrated is in each instance adapted to progressiveactuation in the direction indicated through eight distinct posi tionsincluding two diametrically opposed off positions and six on positionsarranged in two equal groups between successive ofl positions. Furtherthe arrangement is such that during each half revolution of the drumfrom either off position, the controlled motor is first provided withline connections affording certain operative characteristics therefor,thereafter the connections are so commutated as to vary certainoperative characteristics of the motor, such as speed, torque or thelike, without reversal, and subsequently the original connections arereestablished except for such transpositions as to effect reversal ofthe motor.

As exemplary of the possible uses to which the herein contemplated drummay be readily adapted, four distinct types of control by means of suchdrum are illustrated diagrammatically and will now be described, two ofsuch types relating to three phase systems and two to two phase fourwire systems. The motors to be controlled are of the induction type andonly the primary windings thereof are considered herein, it beingassumed that where secondary control is desired any preferred characterof such control is to be employed. The drum terminals or fingers aredesignated by reference characters corresponding with those of theelements permanently in electrical connection therewith.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the same illustrates an adaptationof the drum to the control of a three phase motor, such as to providefor the motor sequentially for each half revolution of the drum star,delta and reverse star connections.

Thus upon movement of the drum from off position to its first onposition, drum terminals t and Z, t and Z t and Z are respectivelybridged by appropriate drum segments thereby obviously connecting thecorresponding terminals of the several motor windings to theirrespective supply lines iii in the sequence indicated. w iereas. drumterminals 1;, i and I? are also interconnected by appropriateinterconnected drum segments, thus obviously providing line connectionof the several motor windings in star relation to one another.

Upon movement of the drum to its second on position, the aforedcscribedconnec-- tions are commutated as follows,v that is to say, drumterminals t, Z and 21 are interconnected by appropriate segments whereasdrum terminals 5 it and Z and also the group i t and Z are similarlyconnected, thereby connecting the motor windings with their respectivesupply lines in delta relation and with reference to the phase rotationin the same relation as before. Upon movement of the drum to its thirdon position, drum terminals 3 and t are interconnected as upon the firstpoint where terminals '15 and Z t and Z, and and Z are res )ectivelybidged, thereby serving to connect the corresponding motor terminalswith their supply lines again in star but in a relation providing forreverse operation of the motor.

Upon further progressive movement of the drum beyond the off position,the relation of the two halves oi" the drum with reference to theirrespectively associated groups of fixed terminals is reversed. How ever,it is at once apparent that the arrange ment of the drum segmentstogether with the manner of their interconnection is such that preciselythe same circuit commutations are now effected in the same order uponprogrem sive step by step movement of the drum through the three onpositions included in the second half of a complete revolution, whereasthe precise manner in which such commutation is effected is believed tobe too obvious to warrant more extended description.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the same also relates to the control of a threephase motor, the cycle of connection being, as illustrated, first doublestar, second delta, third reverse double star. The arrangement of thedrum terminals or fingers is the same as that of the preceding figurewhereas the structure of the drum itself is likewise the same except-For omission of certain electrical connections and optional omission ofthe second and iird segments from the upper horizontal row, since suchsegments do not participate in the control.

With the circuit arrangement illustrated obviously double star circuitconnection of the motor windings is effected upon the first controlpoint, the same sets or drum terminals being; bridged as upon the firstpoint of the previous adaption of the drum. Upon the second point themotor windings are provided with delta circuit connections asillustrated in Fig. 2 drum terminals Z and 5 Z and t and Z and t beingrespectively bridged by the appropriate drum segments and drum terminalst, t and 2& being unenergized whereby the correspondingly designatedmotor terminals are not com mutated. Upon the third point the conneotions represented in the main figure 2 are reestablished ertcept thatthe motor terminals T and T are interchanged with reference to theirsupply lines thereby providing for reverse operation or the motor.

Fig. 3 shows an adaptation of the drum to the purpose of effectingseries paralleling control of the windings ot a two phase motor to besupplied from a tour wire system L, L L L the phases being etween L, Land L L respectively.

ln this instance the drum segments which were discarded in ig. 2 arerestored but on the other hand the lowermost group of tour connectedsegments of the two preceding adaptations is removed or otherwiserendered inactive. The arrangement of the drum terminals has also beenmodified, such modification including; permanent connection of motorterminal T to line L and T to line L Upon the first control pointobviously drum terminals 7/ and t and Z and 27* are respectively bridgedthereby providing corresponding line connections for the similarlydesignated motor terminals, motor terminal T being also connected toline L shown. Also drum terminals 16 and f, and t and i are respectivelyinterconnected thus interconnecting the COII'GSPORCllIlg pairs of motorterminals, completing connection of the motor windings in series relatedpairs across their respective phase supply lines.

Upon the second point groups of drum terminals Z and a", Z t and 25 Zand t and Z t and t are respectively interconected thereby effecting thearrangement of connections of the motor windings, illustrated in Fig. 3wherein said windings are connected in pairs in parallel with oneanother across their respective supply circ Upon the third point theconnections es tablished are the same as upon the first point except forinterchange of the connections of motor terminals T and T with referenceto their supply lines, thus providing for reversal of the motor.

Fig. d illust ates the adaptation oi the drum to the control of twophase motor of the separate circuit type to be supplied from lines L, LL L the phases being between L L and L L respectively. In this in stancethe same two segments of the upper horizontal row are omitted as in theconstruc tion of Fig. 1 whereas the upper group of eight interconnectedsegments of said earlier figure is also omitted or otherwise renderedinactive.

With this arrangement, upon the first point, groups of drum terminals Zand t, Z and t, and Z and t are interconnected thus effecting connectionof the corresponding line and motor terminals, the motor terminal Tbeing permanently connected with line L as shown, whereby obviously onlythe lower pair of motor windings are connected in circuit.

Upon the second point the line connections of motor terminals T and Tare maintained whereas drum terminals t and t are deenergized andterminals t and t are conthat for effecting the characters of controldepicted in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 a minimum of nine connections must becommutated whereas for the control illustrated in Figs. 3 and 3 theminimum number of connections requiring commutation is ten. Also sincein each case the controller is required to eiiect two complete cycles ofcontrol for each revolution of the drum the number of rows of fixedterminals or contact fingers perpendicular to the direction of rotationof the drum is practically restricted to two,

whereby the drum controller must necessarily be of suflicient length toprovide for five fixed contacts in a single row, whereas, in none of theforegoing adaptations does the length of the drum controller exceed suchminimum.

Further it is obvious that for efi'ecting the required character ofcontrol the drum must necessarily provide, as regards either row offixed contacts. eight distinct positions including two off and ix onpositions, which minimum number of positions or points is in no instanceexceeded. and from the foregoing it is apparent that the physicaldimensions of the drum structure hereinbetore described are in eachinstance minimized, such dimensions being obviously the same in all theforegoing adaptations.

Considering now the particular structure and arrangement of the drumitself, with reference particularly to Fig. 5. it is seen that thecomplete drum comprises thirty single point contact segments havingelectrical interconnections providing seven distinct groups, a, a, b, b.b, 0 and 0', whereas under certain conditions the groups 72 and b andalso the groups 0, c and b are to be interconnected. Moreover in eachinstance the groups designated by the same reference letter arestructurally similar whereby but three shapes of segment castings arerequired, that is to say, the complete drum may conveniently comprisetwo castings a, three castings b and two castings c, suitably arrangedand interconnected as required.

Thus for the adaptation of Fig. 1 the full number of castings isrequired, the groups 6 and b and also the groups 0, c and I) beinginterconnected as shown.

For performance of the control depicted in Fig. 2 only the groups I) andb are interconnected, whereas, one segment is omitted or renderedinactive in each of groups a and a as aforedescribed.

For the purposes of Fig. 3 the total number of segments of groups a anda is employed, the groups b and b and c and c are disconnected from/ oneanother and the group b is omitted entirelv.

For the control illustrated in Fig. 4 the number of segments of groups aand a is reduced as in Fig. 2. the groups 0, a and b are unconnectedwhile groups 6 and b are omitted. I

' From the foregoing it is apparent that by suitable arrangement andinterconnection of but four shapes of segment castings, one ofsaid'shapes comprising a single segment, together with suitableconnection of a maximum number of ten drum terminals or contact fingersprovision is made for efi'ecting numerous and widely differing types ofcontrol, including all the types aforedescribed, the control apparatusbeing moreover of minimized physical dimensions and of extremesimplicity.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A rotatable drum controller for motors and the like, comprising linecontacts and other contacts to be in. connection with the motor, andsegments to co-operate with said contacts, said contact-s being soarranged and said segments having such interconnections as during eachrevolution ofthe drum to provide for effecting a plurality of similarcycles of commutations of the connections of the motor to the line, thenumber of said contacts being not in excess of the number of saidconnections and the number of distinct contacting surfaces of said segments being not in excess of the product of the number of commutationsper cycle times one more than the number of contacts.

2. A rotatable drum controller for motors and the like comprising linecontacts and other contacts to be in connection with the motor, andsegments to co-operate with said contacts, said contacts being soarranged and said egments having such interconnections as during eachrevolution of the drum to provide for effecting a plurality of similarcycles of commutations of the connections of the motor to the line, thenumber of said contacts being not in excess of the number of saidconnections and the number of distinct contacting surfaces of saidsegments being not inexcess of the product of the number of commutationsper cycle times one more than the number of contacts, the arrangementfurther providing for variation of the character of control effected bythe controller while maintaining a fixed number and relation of the linecontacts.

3. A rotatable drum controller for three phase motors comprising anumber of fixed contacts not to exceed ten and a number of similarcontacting surfaces not to exceed thirty to co-operate therewith, saidcontacts and said surfacesbeing so arrangedas during each completerevolution of the drum, to effect two cycles of control, each cycleincluding star, delta and reverse star connections and alsode-energization ofthe motor.

, i. A rotatable drum controller for three phase motors comprising anumber of fixed contacts not to exceed ten and a number of similarcontacting surfaces, not to exceed thirty, to co-operate therewith, saidcontacts and said surfaces being so arranged as, during each completerevolution of the drum, to effect two cycles of control, each cycleincluding star, deltaand reverse star connections and alsodeenergization of the motor, and wherein provision is also made forsubstitution of double star connections forthe star connections of suchcycle.

5. A rotatable drum controller for three phase motors comprising anumber of fixed contacts not to exceed ten and'segments providing anumber of similar contacting surfaces, not to exceed thirty, toco-operate therewith, said contacts and said surfaces being so arrangedas, during each complete revolution of the drum, to eifect two cycles ofcontrol, each cycle including star, delta and reverse star connectionsand also deenergization of the motor, and wherein provision is also madefor substitution of double star connections for the star connections ofsuch cycle, without increase in the number of co-operating contacts. I

6. A rotatable drum controller for three phase motors comprisinga'number of fixed contacts not to exceed ten and segments providing anumber of similar contacting surfaces not to exceed thirty to co-operatetherewith, said contactsand said surfaces being so arranged as, duringeach complete revolution of the drum, to effect two cycles of control,each cycle including star, delta and reverse star connections and alsodeenergization of the motor, and wherein provision is also madeforsubstitution of double star connections for the star connections of suchcycle through varying the relation of certain controller contacts to themotorand reducti s in t e number o eet te are se me 7. A rotatable drumcontroller for polyphase motors adapted during each revolution of thedrum to effect two similar cycles of control each cycle comprisingestablishment sequentially of low speed, high speed and reverse lowspeed connections and final de-energization of the motor, comprisingcontacts and co-operating segments havlng contacting surfaces soarranged and so connected as to provide for elfecting such control of athree phase motor or optionally of a tvvo phase four wire motor.

8. A rotatable drum controller for polyphase motors adapted during eachrevolution of the drum to effect two similar cycles of control eachcycle comprising establishment sequentially of low speed, high speed andreverse low speed connections and final de-energization of the motor,comprising contacts and segments providing co-operating contactingsurfaces so arranged and so connectedas to provide for effecting suchcontrol of a three phase motor or optionally of a two phase four wiremotor, the number of said contacts being not in excess of the number ofcircuit connections requiring commutation in one given instance,

9. A rotatable drum controller for polyphase motors adapted during eachrevolution of the drum to effect two similar cycles of control, eachcycle comp-rising establishment sequentially of starting, running andreverse starting connections and final deenergization of the motor,comprising contacts and cooperating segments so arranged and soconnected as to provide for effecting such control of a three phasemotor or optionally of a two phase four wire motor, the number of saidcontacts being not in excess of the number of circuit connectionsrequiring commutation in one given instance, and the number of segmentsbeing not greater than the product of such maximum number of contactstimes the number of circuit commutations per cycle of control.

10. A rotatable drum controller adapted to commutate the connections ofa three phase motor to a three wire supply circuit or of a two phasemotor to a four wire supply circuit in two complete cycles during eachrevolution of the drum, each of said cycles comprising establishmentsequentially of starting, runningand reverse starting connections withfinal de-energization of the motor, comprising fixed contacts and aplurality of drum segments arranged in seven groups of interconnectedsegments, said groups to include but three dissimilar types.

11. A rotatable drum controller adapted to commutate: the connections ofa three phase motor to a three wire supply circuit or of a two phasemotor to a four wire supply circuit in two complete cycles during eachrevclution of the drum, each of said cycles comprising establishmentsequentially of starting, running and reverse starting connections withfinal de-energization of the motor, comprising fixed contacts and aplurality of drum segments arranged in seven groups of interconnectedsegments, said groups to include but three dissimilar types,

and said segments being so arranged and interconnecte as to render thesame functionally symmetrical with respect to two diametrically opposedelements of the drum.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

RICHARD B. HUNTER.

